Anatomy and Life Drawing
Richard Barnet’s approach to teaching drawing and figure construction is both traditional and attentive to the talents and purposes of individual students. Figure drawing—more broadly, representational drawing—is a visual language based in such “elements” as observation, composition, 2-D and 3-D contour, perspective, and is useful–sometimes essential—for artists working with the human figure. In most classes, Mr. Barnet gives an illustrated lecture on the various elements of drawing; and over many classes, he surveys the anatomy of the entire human figure.
Representational drawing is a visual language with both an inexhaustible history and modernity. As students learn to “speak”—or draw—in this shared language, they also discover their own way of “speaking”. Drawing, like speech and music-making, always carries the recognizable, individual “voice” of its author. As a teacher, Mr. Barnet tries to understand what the strengths are of his students. He collaborates. with them as they become fluent in the common language of drawing, so that their natural ways of designing may flourish, whether in drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, architecture, etc.
Mr. Barnet is a sculptor. He encourages students to explore working in varied media, including within sculpture and painting. Such work is often the natural extension of drawing into other media.
[/threecol_two] [threecol_one_last]Mr. Barnet has exhibited at Lincoln Center, Hudson River Museum, Anita Shapolsky Gallery, National Academy of Design, Five Points Gallery, Berta Walker Gallery, St. Mary’s College, Cooper Gallery, Walker-Kornbluth Gallery, The National Sculpture Society, and other venues. In the past year, he exhibited sculptures at Netherfields Gallery (Frenchtown, NJ) and Studio Atelier (Oyster Bay, NY).
Mr. Barnet has taught at the Art Students League of New York since 1980, and at the College of Mount Saint Vincent since 1970. He has also taught at New York University, SUNY Purchase and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
He studied at the Art Students League and at the National Academy of Design. He has a B.A. from Antioch College, and an M. A. from New York University, and an M.F.A. from Lehman College, CUNY. He is a sculptor member of the National Sculpture Society. He likes to sail, and recommens it for all that is to be seen on and from boats.
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